The ripple effect that can take place leading up to the draft is clear this time of year. Take into account a handful of subpar pro day performances, a few medical issues creating doubt and a couple of prospects leaving bad impressions during interviews, and the entire landscape of the draft can be altered.

It's important to remember the rumors, innuendo and smoke screens that create deception about interest, which then changes any mock draft. The latest version of the first round of my two-round mock draft includes 29 of the 32 prospects from version 2.0, but 24 changes to where those players were selected. The second round has nine new players (three who slid out of the first round) as choices in the first round changed the direction teams went in the second.

In the end, my third mock draft looks quite different than my second:

First round

Pick No.

1

MARCELL DAREUS

DT

ALABAMA

There could be a quarterback in this position by the time we get to late April, but after several days in New Orleans with owners, general managers and coaches, there was more doubt than conviction about the top quarterbacks in this draft. After thinking seriously about
Patrick Peterson and Da'Quan Bowers, the
Panthers get an instant starter in Dareus. This is the safe and solid pick for the
Panthers.

Pick No.

2

DA'QUAN BOWERS

DE

CLEMSON

Bowers is close to being healthy enough to work out for teams, and his agent said he's ready now. If Bowers can demonstrate the skills that led to 15.5 sacks last year, he rises right back to the top of the draft.

Pick No.

3

PATRICK PETERSON

CB

LSU

Patrick has Charles Woodson-like qualities as well as terrific return skills. With
Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, the
Bills can afford to wait until the second round for a quarterback. With
Tom Brady in the division, the
Bills need a shutdown cornerback.

Pick No.

4

CAM NEWTON

QB

Auburn

Newton was in this spot in my last mock draft and will probably only go up from here. The
Bengals need to come to grips with the reality that
Carson Palmer means what he says about retiring. Why draft a top wide receiver here if you don't have anyone to throw to him?

Pick No.

5

VON MILLER

LB

TEXAS A&M

The
Cardinals need a quarterback, but they could have their eye on one early in Round 2, consider a trade up into the bottom of the first round or deal for a veteran later. In the meantime, they need outside linebacker help and Miller is the best in the draft.

Pick No.

6

A.J. GREEN

WR

GEORGIA

Green has been in this spot in three straight mock drafts. There will be consideration for
Julio Jones, but Green is a real playmaker.

Pick No.

7

BLAINE GABBERT

QB

MISSOURI

Get the thought out of your head that
Jim Harbaugh can wait a year and draft
Andrew Luck. There are simply no guarantees that the Niners will even be in that position. Gabbert can run, is very smart and works the underneath passing attack well, all qualities that apply to executing the West Coast offense.

Pick No.

8

NICK FAIRLEY

DT

AUBURN

This is the second mock draft in which I've had Fairley dropping to the eighth pick. Too many people at the NFL Annual Meeting felt there are some minor doubts about Fairley. Is it his interviews? His junior college track record, or even his casual style? I've interviewed him four times and he's a football player. A bargain at this spot.

Pick No.

9

J.J. WATT

DE

WISCONSIN

It's time for the
Cowboys to move away from the idea of a cornerback and focus on the big players. A top offensive tackle would be a solid pick here and all will still on the board. But Watt has the size and aggressive style that Rob Ryan is looking for in his version of the 3-4 defense. Watt has been moving up draft boards for weeks now and should crack the top 10.

Pick No.

10

ROBERT QUINN

DE

NORTH CAROLINA

It looks like the
Redskins will have to move up if they want a top quarterback. Quinn can really help their ailing 3-4 hybrid defense, but also has health issues that have to be evaluated due to a benign tumor on his brain. Even so, he is moving up draft boards.

Pick No.

11

RYAN KERRIGAN

DE

PURDUE

Kerrigan is getting favorable reviews from many coaches I've spoken with because of his production, attitude and football intelligence. The
Texans need an outside linebacker in their new 3-4 defense to create more pressure in order to help the secondary. They will get a solid cornerback in the next round.

Pick No.

12

CAMERON JORDAN

DE

CAL

The
Vikings have needs at quarterback, offensive line and defensive line. Watching Jordan's game tapes and his work at the
Senior Bowl, he is stout, can hold the point of attack, is nimble and can rush from the edge. He's also the son of former Viking tight end Steve Jordan.

Pick No.

13

ANTHONY CASTONZO

OT

Boston College

In my last mock, it was OT
Nate Solder in this spot. However, it was Castonzo who drew the praise from two offensive line coaches I've spoken with recently. His versatility makes him a solid fit for Detroit, especially after Jeff Backus played well last year.

Pick No.

14

JULIO JONES

WR

ALABAMA

There's a school of thought that Jones will be gone by this spot, and that might very well be true. For now, he's a perfect fit in St. Louis. It will be interesting to see just how high he can go in the draft coming off foot surgery.

Pick No.

15

PRINCE AMUKAMARA

CB

NEBRASKA

This is the first time I did not put running back
Mark Ingram in this spot. Amukamara had yet to fall this far, but his draft grade dictates taking him here. If Amukamara slips, it will be interesting to see how far Ingram could drop.

Pick No.

16

ALDON SMITH

DE

MISSOURI

Kerrigan went here last time, but he has been moving up and should be taken sooner. Smith had an average pro day, but as many coaches have told me, the pro days are overrated and don't mean much.

Pick No.

17

TYRON SMITH

OT

USC

Even though Smith played right tackle at USC, he's projected on the left side in the NFL.
Sebastian Vollmer is the right tackle in New England, but could even be a better left tackle. Taking Smith here gives the
Patriots flexibility. With another pick at No. 28, they could easily trade out there to a team looking for a late first-round quarterback.

Pick No.

18

ADRIAN CLAYBORN

DE

IOWA

Clayborn is disruptive and fits in any scheme. While he didn't have big production as a senior, he's still highly regarded. Quinn was in this spot in my last mock, but his stock is rising.

Pick No.

19

NATE SOLDER

OT

Colorado

The
Giants need to overhaul their once-great offensive line. Solder is a pure left tackle with pass-blocking skills. He offers protection on the blind side for
Eli Manning, who is a pocket passer.

Pick No.

20

BRANDON HARRIS

CB

MIAMI

The
Buccaneers don't play as much Cover 2 as everyone believes, and getting a cornerback with man-to-man skills helps them evolve. Ronde Barber can't play forever and as Tampa Bay improves, it will rely more on nickel and dime packages when playing with a lead. Harris will play more than 60 percent of the snaps as a rookie.

Pick No.

21

PHIL TAYLOR

NT

BAYLOR

Taylor has held down this spot in my last two mocks, because he might be the best 3-4 nose tackle in the draft.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli likes to build his teams with big people up front, and Taylor fits the bill.

Pick No.

22

COREY LIUGET

DT

ILLINOIS

The
Colts could go offensive line here, and I would more than understand that choice with
Gabe Carimi still on the board. I watched three of Liuget's games this week and was impressed with his disruptive three-technique style. He could really help the defense, which in turn might really help the offense even more.

Pick No.

23

MIKE POUNCEY

G/C

FLORIDA

The
Eagles have had issues all over the offensive line and could go with a tackle here. With Howard Mudd coaching the group, he will want a key figure inside and the
Eagles need a healthy center. Pouncey is versatile and Mudd gets a guy who can play anywhere.

Pick No.

24

CAM HEYWARD

DE

OHIO ST.

Saints defensive coordinator
Gregg Williams loves versatile players with great passion for the game. Hayward is the son of former
Saints running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, and this is the second straight mock draft I've had him in this slot.

Pick No.

25

JAKE LOCKER

QB

WASHINGTON

I recently watched six of Locker's games. He has tons of raw talent, but will need at least a year of work to prepare. Re-signing
Matt Hasselbeck to a short-term deal would make this a solid pick. Coaches seem to like Locker much more than his media perception as an undisciplined scrambler indicates. Two head coaches have told me they would love to coach Locker, and one compared his style to a young Steve Young.

Pick No.

26

TORREY SMITH

WR

Maryland

It appears Smith has slipped out of the first round for some teams, but he has what the
Ravens need most of all: Speed. He can take the top off a defense.

Pick No.

27

JIMMY SMITH

CB

COLORADO

I struggled with this pick and might change it next time around because of the type of players GM Thomas Dimitroff likes to bring into the organization. Smith is a big, nasty cornerback who plays a physical brand of ball. That's appealing, but he has to convince Dimitroff and coach
Mike Smith of how he will handle himself off the field on the pro level.

Pick No.

28

MUHAMMAD WILKERSON

DT

TEMPLE

Wilkerson has the traits coach
Bill Belichick looks for in his five-technique defensive ends: Height, bulk, long arms and a sub-5.0 time in the 40-yard dash at 315 pounds. I expect this pick to be traded to a team looking for a quarterback before the first round comes to an end and teams go home for the night to regroup.

Pick No.

29

GABE CARIMI

OT

WISCONSIN

The
Bears will consider themselves fortunate if Carimi falls to them. They need offensive line help and Carimi is NFL ready.
Jay Cutler gets sacked too much and the running game needs to improve. Carimi helps on both fronts.

Pick No.

30

AKEEM AYERS

OLB

UCLA

The
Jets could go with Ayers or
Justin Houston here. Looking at more tape of Ayers, he is a smooth athlete with speed and size who can drop in coverage, rush the passer and hold the point of attack.

Pick No.

31

DEREK SHERROD

OT

MISSISSIPPI ST.

The
Steelers will also look at guard
Danny Watkins, but an offensive tackle might be a better value. At any rate, the
Steelers look to be in position to repair their offensive line issues early in this draft.

Pick No.

32

MARK INGRAM

RB

ALABAMA

Surprised Ingram fell this far? Wondering why the
Steelers, with
Rashard Mendenhall, wouldn't take Ingram with the previous pick? Well, the
Steelers like to take the highest ranked player and this is no exception.